Kamen was born in New York City, the second of four sons. His father Saul Kamen was a dentist, and his mother, Harriet, was a teacher. While attending the The High School of Music & Art in New York City, Michael Kamen met and became friends with Martin Fulterman (later known as Mark Snow, who composed the theme music for The X-Files among other projects). While studying the oboe, he formed a rock classical fusion band called New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, together with classmates Fulterman and Dorian Rudnytsky. The group performed their music while dressed in tuxedos. In the middle of the concert, Fulterman and Kamen would play an oboe duet. The group backed up friend and classmate Janis Ian in a concert at Alice Tully Hall in late 1967. After graduating high school, Kamen attended The Juilliard School, also in New York City.
Kamen's early work centered on ballets, thirteen in all, then expanding into Hollywood by writing the score for The Next Man in 1976, then into pop and rock arranging, collaborating with Pink Floyd on their album, The Wall.
Kamen became a highly-sought arranger in the realms of pop and rock music. His contemporaries in this field included Academy Award winner Anne Dudley, Richard Niles, and Nick Ingman. His successes include his work with Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and Roger Waters (he is one of the few people to have been invited to work with both former Pink Floyd members, after their acrimonious split), as well as Queen (orchestration on Who Wants To Live Forever), Eric Clapton (on Edge of Darkness), Roger Daltrey, Aerosmith (live orchestral version of Dream On for MTV), Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Eurythmics, Queensrÿche, Rush, Metallica (on their live album, S&M), Def Leppard, Herbie Hancock, The Cranberries, Bryan Adams, Jim Croce, Coldplay, Sting, and Kate Bush. For Bush, Kamen delivered an orchestral backing for "Moments of Pleasure" from The Red Shoes album, substantially building upon a simple piano theme Bush had composed. In this instance, and many others, he conducted the orchestra personally for the recording. In 1984, Kamen had similarly heightened the impact of a pop recording for the Eurythmics "Here Comes the Rain Again", that score relying as much on his compositional skills as his arranging talents. Five years later, he did the music for For Queen and Country.
In 1990, Kamen joined many other guests for Roger Waters' performance of The Wall in Berlin and headed the National Philharmonic Orchestra during the 24 Nights sessions with Eric Clapton the following year.
Lenny Kravitz recorded a cover of "Fields of Joy" on his 1991 CD Mama Said that Michael co-wrote with Hal Fredricks.
In 2002, he was part of the Concert for George as string conductor.
Kamen had a very successful partnership with Bryan Adams and R.J. Lange composing scores and songs. The ballad "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" for the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves would be the number one song of that year, worldwide. Other songs would be "All For Love" for the movie "The Three Musketeers" in 1993, and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" the song from the film "Don Juan DeMarco" in 1995.
Kamen wrote eleven ballets, a saxophone concerto and an electric guitar concerto (with Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei as a soloist). Additionally, he wrote a commissioned work, "Quintet," for the Canadian Brass. He also provided scores for the films such as Back to Gaya, The Dead Zone (film), For Queen and Country, Polyester, Brazil, Someone To Watch Over Me, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Three Musketeers, Highlander, X-Men, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Licence to Kill, the Lethal Weapon series, the first three films of the Die Hard series, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Iron Giant, Splitting Heirs, Frequency, and many others. To this day the overture from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is used by Morgan Creek Productions for its logo, while New Line's corresponding theme is the opening segment of a track from Highlander. He also scored both the From the Earth to the Moon and Band of Brothers series on HBO. The trailer for the 2008 Disney/Pixar release WALL-E featured Kamen's 'Central Services / The Office' from his Brazil 1985 OST.
In television, Kamen composed music for two series of The Manageress produced by Glenn Wilhide at Zed Productions for Channel 4, but perhaps his best known work was on the 1985 BBC Television serial Edge of Darkness, on which he collaborated with Eric Clapton to write the score. The pair were awarded with a British Academy Television Award for Best Original Television Music for their work and performed the main movie theme with the National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall of London in 1990 and 1991. In 1994, Kamen conducted an orchestration of The Who's music for Roger Daltrey's 50th birthday concert series entitled Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who which was subsequently released on CD and DVD. He also worked with heavy metal band Metallica, on a two day concert that was held in Berkeley, California, with the San Francisco Symphony. A recording of the concert, titled S&M, debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, won a Grammy for the "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" in 2000 and went multi-platinum in 2001.
Kamen was nominated for two Academy Awards and won three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, two Ivor Novello Awards, an Annie Award and an Emmy.
His involvement with Mr. Holland's Opus, a film about a frustrated composer who finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher, led Kamen to create The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation in 1996. The foundation supports music education through the donation of new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved school and community music programs and individual students in the United States. In 2005 the foundation created an emergency fund for schools and students affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In 1999, Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony constructed and performed a concert with thrash metal band Metallica. This concert was released as a live album on DVD, VHS and CD, under the title S&M (an acronym for "Symphony and Metallica" but also wordplay on the abbreviation for sadomasochism). In 2001 and 2002, Kamen performed with David Gilmour at Gilmour's semi-unplugged shows at the Royal Festival Hall, playing piano and cor anglais. The 2001 concert and highlights from 2002 were released as a DVD as David Gilmour in Concert.
In 2002, Kamen, along with Julian Lloyd Webber, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Sir James Galway launched the Music Education Consortium in the UK. The consortium's efforts led to the injection of £332 million for music education in the UK. He was also commissioned to write a piece for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Kamen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. He died in London from a heart attack in 2003, at the age of 55. His last recorded work appeared on Bryan Adams's album Room Service where he played the oboe and wrote the orchestration to "I Was Only Dreamin'". Kamen had also completed the charts for accompaniment to two songs on Kate Bush's album Aerial, which was released in April 2005. Some of Bush's fans, pleased by Kamen's scoring of "Moments of Pleasure" from Bush's 1993 album The Red Shoes, expressed gratitude when it became known that the work had been finished.[citation needed]
In 2004, when Annie Lennox accepted the Academy Award for Best Original Song (her composition "Into the West" from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), she dedicated her achievement to the memory of Kamen.
The 2004 movies First Daughter and Boo, Zino & the Snurks|Back To Gaya, which he was working on at the time of his death, were dedicated to his memory.
David Gilmour's 2006 album On an Island was dedicated in his and longtime Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke's memories.
Michael Kamen is survived by his wife, Sandra Keenan-Kamen, and by his daughters, Sasha and Zoe.
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?
Michael Kamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To understand her, you gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought, see every dream
And give her wings, when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless, in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
To really love a woman
Let her hold you, til ya know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her, really taste her
Til you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
A little tenderness, gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman
And when you find yourself lyin' helpless, in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
So tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
The lyrics to Michael Kamen's song "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" speak to the complexity and depth of truly loving and understanding a woman. To love a woman, you must know her deeply and intimately, understanding her thoughts and dreams and giving her the freedom to pursue them. When you are vulnerable, lying helplessly in her arms, you know that you really love her.
The song also emphasizes the importance of communicating your love to a woman. Telling her that she is wanted and that she is the one, as well as reassuring her that your love will last forever, is crucial in a lasting relationship. To really love a woman, you must let her hold you and touch you in the way she needs, breathing her in and feeling her in your blood. When you can see your unborn children in her eyes, you know that your love is real.
Line by Line Meaning
To really love a woman
In order to truly love a woman
To understand her, you gotta know her deep inside
In order to comprehend her, you must get to know her innermost being
Hear every thought, see every dream
Listen to every idea, witness every aspiration
And give her wings, when she wants to fly
Provide her with the capability to soar when she desires to do so
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless, in her arms
At the point when you feel vulnerable and powerless, and she embraces you
You know you really love a woman
It is only then that you could truly say you love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you communicate to her that she's desired
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
When you love a woman, you express that she's the only one
Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever
Because she requires someone to affirm that it will endure perpetually
So tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
So let me inquire if you have ever genuinely, genuinely, genuinely loved a woman?
Let her hold you, til ya know how she needs to be touched
Allow her to embrace you, until you discern how she desires to be caressed
You've gotta breathe her, really taste her
You must inhale her essence, savor her flavor
Til you can feel her in your blood
Until you sense her presence in your veins
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
And when you can envision your future children in her gaze
You know you really love a woman
You can truly declare that you love a woman
You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
You must instill confidence in her, hold her tightly
A little tenderness, gotta treat her right
Show her some affection, treat her properly
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
She will remain by your side, taking excellent care of you
You really gotta love your woman
You genuinely have to love your woman
Just tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?
Simply answer me, have you ever actually, actually, actually loved a woman?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, Robert Lange
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheOne-gg7rc
When I first heard this song as a black man, just grocery shopping in a supermarket. I stopped in my tracks and listened to this wonderful music they were playing.
I was truly impressed with the sound, the music and the lyrics.
I’ll never forget it!
I tried to remember some of the verses, so when I get home, I could search for it online…found it! Bryan Adams. Love this guy!
What a beautiful and lovely tribute to our women on our planet.
I’m sure every woman can relate to Mr Adams on this special love song and how men should love their women and their unborn children in her eyes. Not to mention that he said “you can feel her all up in your blood”.
Wow!
Magnificent!
That’s some love, right there.
I salute this song and want to send it out for all the women in the world, black, brown, red, yellow and white.
We Love You!💕
@MsFramary
To really love a woman
To understand her
You gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought
See every dream
And give her wings
When she wants to fly
Then when you find
Yourself layin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman you tell her
That she's really wanted
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her
To tell her that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
To really love a woman
Let her hold you
'Til ya know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her, really taste her
'Til you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your
Unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her
That you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
A little tenderness, you gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman, yeah
And when you find
Yourself layin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her
To tell her that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
@welindakusdibyo
Lyric:
To really love a woman
To understand her, you gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought, see every dream
And give her wings when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever
So, tell me have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman? Yeah
To really love a woman
Let her hold you, 'til you know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her, really taste her, 'til you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody, to tell her that you'll always be together
So, tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman? (Oh)
You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
A little tenderness gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman, yeah
And when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her that it's gonna last forever
So, tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman? (Yeah)
Just tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman? (Oh)
Just tell me, have you ever really, really, really, ever loved a woman?
@johnd1820
Lyrics:
To really love a woman
To understand her
You gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought
See every dream
And give her wings
When she wants to fly
Then when you find
Yourself layin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman you tell her
That she's really wanted
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her
That it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
To really love a woman
Let her hold you
'Til ya know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her, really taste her
'Til you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your
Unborn children in her eyes
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her
That you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
A little tenderness, you gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman, yeah
And when when you find
Yourself layin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman
You tell her that she's the one
'Cause she needs somebody to tell her
That it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
Just tell me have you ever really
Really, really ever loved a woman?
@edwardpootchemunka8027
Who's listening to this masterpiece in 2024 ❤❤
@kelemafatle4982
Meeeeee🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
@edwardpootchemunka8027
@@kelemafatle4982 thank you❤
@Danadane314
Listening and sharing 😍
@susanspotts1882
Me!
@WassillaReddy
I love this song... Over nd over again.... I'm 74 yrs old...
@Listen_To_Hillsong_2
My ex-boyfriend just ended our 5-yr relationship last week. Been struggling with anxiety and depression until now. This song reminds me that Jesus can only give peace. Please pray for me as well. Thank you.
@oliveiramariasusana
Be strong❤❤❤ you are a great woman
Kisses from portugal❤
@violetacamps8573
Sorry,that's sad....
@rubayaislam1332
Their is an person warm heart but awesome like u if u want to meet plz let me know plz